Spotlight on Glover trail & exhibition

A project to promote the north-east of Scotland as the birthplace of ‘Scottish Samurai’ Sir Thomas Glover was introduced to Japanese audiences last week in Nagasaki.

A new exhibit in Aberdeen’s Maritime museum, booklet and visitor trail exploring the life of Fraserburgh merchant Sir Thomas Blake Glover have been created to highlight the Scot and his place in Scottish-Japanese history to those both at home and abroad.

Copies of the booklet and trail were presented to the custodians of Thomas Glover’s former home in Nagasaki, now called the Thomas Glover House and Gardens, by the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Europe Fiona Hyslop.

Ms Hyslop said: “Thomas Glover is one of the most important Scots in history and his legacy endures in both Nagasaki and Aberdeenshire today.

“The initiative will not only renew interest in Thomas Glover but attract more Scots to learn about him and Scotland’s links to modern Japan.

“I hope the trail and exhibition will also attract Japanese tourists to Scotland to see for themselves the places where Glover grew up.”

The exhibit, booklet and trail have been created through Aberdeen City Council’s Common Good Fund.

The council is also in the process of opening up access to Glover House in Bridge of Don to more visitors.

Thomas Glover House and Gardens in Nagasaki enjoys around two million visitors a year and is noted for its blend of western and Japanese elements.

The new permanent Aberdeen exhibit includes a model of the warship Jo Sho Maru, bottles of Kirin beer which feature Glover, and a suit of Samurai armour.

The Glover Trail features 10 places to visit in Aberdeen and Fraserburgh which were associated with Mr Glover’s life.